Have you ever been in a predicament where you have a chance to serve God but in a way that you aren’t used to? A way that takes you out of your comfort zone? Have you ever thought that maybe that’s what you need to take your eyes off of yourself? That’s exactly what happened to me.
I received an email from a church leader asking me if I would do a 3 minute monologue on the minor prophet Obadiah. I have been used to being on stage, but mostly to sing or Rap but never to do a monologue. I was in a predicament. I had to choose, me or God. I really wanted to choose me and could hear my flesh screaming, but I knew deep down inside that God had a bigger plan for all of this. That’s truly what it’s all about isn’t it?
I don’t want to do it because I _______ ( <——- insert what ever excuse that relates)…
I think Paul said it best
1st Corinthians 9:22-23
I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet to a God-Saved life. I did all this because of the message. I didn’t just want to talk about it, I wanted to be it.
Wow.. .wait… Let’s back up a bit. “Just about every sort of servant”! And I’m having a hard time doing a monologue? I realize now that I was struggling with pride and in hindsight I see that God wanted to show me that my confidence need’s to be in him! The message of Obadiah is about Pride. Edom was eventuality destroyed by their own pride.
When we tell Jesus that he is Lord of our lives we are telling him that we place him first and that nothing will come before him. So if the opportunity arises we need to allow him to use us to bless others. I have much more growing to do in this subject. Just because I made a good choice to serve God in doing the monologue doesn’t mean that I have denied all of my rights. My heart is willing but my flesh is weak. Even though we have no rights we still tend to live life as something that we can fit God into.
Luke 9:23 The Message (MSG)
Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.
So if we deny ourselves we will find our true identity in Christ. If we will allow God to lead us by his spirit we first need to throw away our plans for our life.
The monologue went well and God blessed me in my obedience. I remember the second out of the 3 times I did the monologue, quieting my heart and saying “Lord shine through me and lead me”. I had memorized the monologue but didn’t really give it all to Jesus until that moment. I heard him softly say to me ” I will”.
The hard truth is that unless we allow God to lead us we will never truly know who we are. But if we allow him to take our hand even into situations that are out of our comfort zone, we will see true growth with our identity in him.
Has a situation like this ever happend to you? If so, please comment below.
The Word Composed Write -> Sell = GIVE 